Ornamental button cover attachment



p 1958 M. DOBRO 2,850,779

ORNAMENTAL BUTTON COVER ATTACHMENT Filed May a, 1954 I0 20 4 f MauriceDobro l8 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice ORNAMENTAL BUTTON COVER ATTACHMENT MauriceDobro, NewtonCentre, Mass. Application May 3, 1954, Serial No. 427,028 1Claim. 01; 24-113 The present invention relates to certain new anduseful improvements in button attachments which are referred to in theart as button covers and shields and has more particular reference to anornamental cover which is primarily, but not necessarily, adapted tofunction asan imitation cuff link and which is provided with reliableresilient clasp means whereby said cover may be readily applied to andremoved from a conventional threadattached button.

It is a matter of common knowledge that many men recognize that cuffbuttons are acceptably dressy and stylish but ordinarily require the useof so-called French cuffs. Despite the attractive cuff links of manystyles and forms on the market, the fact remains that inserting andremoving cuff links is ordinarily considered to be a chore by many men.That is to say, it takes time and patience to keep the cuff links handy,properly paired for expedient selection, and requires more time andpatience to insert and remove the same. For this reason there is atendency to dispense with the use of cuff links by the majority of men,it is believed, and this means that most dress shirt cuffs are of thebutton-equipped type. The object of the present invention is, therefore,to provide an ornament, such as for example, an imitation cuff link,which lends itself to application to a shirt cuff using the regularsewedon button as a means for attachment of the single-part cuff link.

Another object of the invention is to provide the article of manufactureherein under consideration which need not necessarily be treated as ahandy imitation cuff link, but may be highly ornamental and usedelsewhere as, for example, on one or more of the studs of a full dressor tuxedo shirt or, for that matter, attached to any button on anyarticle apparel where one would find adaptable and acceptable usetherefor,

In carrying out the invention, a body, which may be described as anornamental cover, is provided and the same is also provided on one sidewith a novelly constructed resilient wire or equivalent attaching andretain ing clasp.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying sheet ofillustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an attachmenttype culf linkconstructed in accordance with the principles of the invention andillustrating what is intended to be accomplished through the medium ofthe invention under advisement;

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the same;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the structureseen in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-section at right angles taken on the vertical line44 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar in some respects Patented Sept;9, 1958 2 to Figure 2 but showing the button in full lines and how itcooperates with the clasp means; and

Figure 6 is a view on an enlarged scale showing the fragmentary portionof the cufi, the button thereon, and the button cover attachment, thelatter appearing in section.

The principal part which may be called the body of the over-allattachment is denoted by the numeral 6. This may be any appropriatebase. It is within the purview of the invention to employ a proper gradeof plastics, glass, bone, metal or such other materials as are employedin the manufacture of cuff links.

The expression base has been used inasmuch as the part 6 could be someinexpensive metal and then a gem or special ornament (not shown) couldbe superimposed on what may be called the top or obverse surface 8.Also, as brought out in Figure l, the body itself could be of somefairly expensive metal and engraved or otherwise finished ofi to providean ornamental face in the manner broadly indicated in Figure l. Thereverse or bottom face is denoted at 10 and this is preferably flat soas to provide a satisfactory foundation for the button which is tocontact therewith, said button being shown in phantom lines at 12 inFigure 2. The attaching and retaining clasp is also important and thisis specifically distinct and is preferably formed from a single lengthof appropriate wire. The wire is bent upon itself between its ends toform what may be described as an elongate loop 14. One reach of the loopcontacts the bottom surface where it is welded or otherwise fixed inplace as at 16. The loop may be described as split in that on one sideit has an open restricted mouth portion 18 which has cooperating closelyspaced substantially parallel arms or limbs 20-40. These form a sort ofa track and guide the button 12 into place and they are preferablylongitudinally bowed with the convex portions in close proximity to thesurface 10 and adapted to bear yieldingly against the button in anobvious fashion. The laterally directed terminal ends of the limbs aredenoted at 22 and they may, if desired, be fixedly secured to thesurface 10 at a point spaced from the position of the split loop 14 or,alternatively, left unattached and free. Thus, there is a loop lateralto and fixed on the flat surface 10 at one end of the body or base andlaterally directed spaced ends 22 which constitute shoulders or stopsfor the marginal edge of the button, and the closely spaced limbs withbends yieldably contacting the button. This provides an excellent typeof a clasp for readily applying the culf button to the shirt button 12and subsequently removing it, resting assured that when once it isapplied that it will stay in place so long as the threads hold thebutton.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is clairned as new is as follows:

An ornamental button cover attachment adapted to function as animitation cuff button and comprising, in combination, a rigid body, thenormally visible exterior or top surface of which is suitably finishedand ornamented and the attachable bottom surface of which is flat and isadapted to be opposed to and to bear directly upon and firmly against asurface of the permanently stitched button with which it is adapted tocooperate, and a clasp carried by said attachable bottom face, saidclasp being confined within the perimeter limits of said cover and beingformed from a single length of wire bent upon itself between its ends toprovide a split-type elongated loop at one end of said clasp, theintermediate bight portion of said loop being straight and superimposedagainst and fixed to a predetermined portion of said bottorn'face sothat the loop, as an entity, is at approximate right angles to saidbottom face and is thus adapted to receive a segmental portion of thecooperating button, and a pair of longitudinally bowed closely spacedlimbs having end portions connected with the cooperating end portions ofsaid loop and extending at right angles from the loop and adapted tobridge the stated button, the ends of the limbs remote from said loopbeing laterally bent and secured to the flat side of said cover andproviding stop 4 shoulders with which adjacent marginal edge portion ofthe stated button engages.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS581,111 Goodwin Apr. 20, 1897 882,483 Wilson Mar. 17, 1908 1,520,395Becker Dec. 23, 1924 1,678,265 Meyers July 24, 1928 1,747,322 Riker Feb.18, 1930 1,774,033 Meyers Aug. 26, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 618,217 GreatBritain Feb. 17, 1949

